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"Yes...are you ready to order?" I casted a glance at Natasha, who gave me one simple nod. 'Always check,' I reminded myself and handed my menu to the blonde. "I'll have the salmon, medium rare, and vegitables, water to drink," I ordered as she wrote and turned to Natasha. "And you Miss?"

"Porterhouse, medium well, and alfredo," my young lover said smoothly, handing her the menu also. "And water for me as well."
The hostess continued to write and took the menu, nodding to us both. "It should be about 20 minutes...it's kind of busy," she apologized before walking away. I tilted my head, feeling the heat in my tux. "You're eating heavy," I said and she shrugged. "Lacrosse has a tendency of burning alot of energy...I have practice tomorrow and I've never been more than 125 pounds my whole life, no matter how much I eat or bench press. Plus...it's steak!"

I smirked. 'Predator...' I thought. 'She's the cutest preadator I've ever seen though...' "So...what were you thinking?" I asked and she blinked a few times. "Uh...well I was nervous..." Natasha said softly. "Really nervous...and scared..."

"Scared? Of what?"

A slow smile. "You are...bigger than average and it was already automatically going to be painful," she said slyly and I felt the heat return to my face. "I'm...not--" I started and she shook her head, pointing. "Hey, you're not on the recieving end," Natasha interrupted and I drank more water, still blushing. 'I am not that big...well, like she said...' I considered as she continued. "Mostly the same as you...but you were...wonderful; as always."

"I hope you weren't too hurt," I said, conserned and she smiled, crossing her legs. "No, no. After all...a little pain never hurt anybody. And when it's followed by mind blowing love making..."

Blinking, I opened my mouth to reply before closing it again. 'Mind blowing...actaully, bigger question. Grissom, are you ready to say the L word?' I thought, staring into her dark brown eyes. 'Every answer I've ever needed is there, in her eyes...but...not now.' "I'm glad..." I said, offering her a smile and started small talk about lacrosse, college, even pass cases that weren't too graphic while eating. Watching her eat was a lesson in civility, knife and fork crossed delicately on the plate when she finished, napkin folded in a neat 4 inch square beneith it.

I shook my head slightly. 'Military training...or just plain manners. Either way, I love it.' Paying the bill and leaving a tip, I stood and taking her hand. "Good dinner?" I asked and Natasha placed her hand in mine. "Incredible...I can't thank you enough," she replied, standing and placing a hand on her stomach. "I couldn't eat another bite...unless it was you."

"No biting," I chuckled and guided her outside into the Las Vegas night. "Gil, where are we going now?"

Opening my door, I started the car as she slid in next to me. "Somewhere..."

"You're so vauge."

"Yes," I said simply and she sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "You will be the death of me..."

As Grissom drove away from the city lights, I leaned my head against the crook of the door and the seat, full from dinner and tired from practice. The desert sand went pass as I heard his cell phone go off. "Grissom."

Silence. Then, "I'm happy for you Nick. But I'm kinda busy right now..." he said, humored and after a few seconds, hung up the phone.

"What was that?" I asked quietly and Gil smiled, putting the cell phone in the holder. "Nick...he and Sara are on a date. He was calling to thank me." I thought for a moment before I remembered. 'Ah, Texan boy,' I realized. 'So she did take my advice...wonder if she realizes it?' "Think they'll work?"

Grissom gave a 'who knows' expression and said, "Maybe...I've been surprised before." Stopping, he put the car in park and turned off the engine. "We're here."

"Where's here?"

Opening the door, my tux clad lover looked over his shoulder. "Get out and look up," he instructed and I grabbed the handle, exiting and tilting my head back.

'Wow...' I thought silently, scaning the sky. The Milky Way was stark against the blackness of the sky, hundreds of thousands of stars shimmering in the blackness, clouds from an impending thunderstorm in the distance. "Gil...it's beautiful..." I whispered and he came to stand next to me, expression soft. Drawing my attention from the night sky, I turned, facing him. "What are you thinking?"

Grissom reached a hand up to touch my hair with the same gentle look. "How beautiful you are," he whispered. "How everything is created out of the same carbon and yet...you're far from ordinary." I lowered my eyes and leaned into his hand, knowing that he loved the feel of my hair on his skin. "Gil..." I whispered back and felt both his hands cradel my face, warm and calloused, insisting that I look him in the eye. Starlight reflected off his hair, making it seem like spun spider silk, eyes pale blue like the hue of lighting. 'My God...do you have any idea how handsome you are?' I asked silently and his thumb rubbed the rise of my cheekbone, tuxedo cufflings flashing in the near darkness. "Natasha..." he implored, barely audible. "I should have said this months ago but...I love you...so much it hurts sometimes..."

As he trailed off, I knew my expression was shocked. 'He...just put so much on the line...' I thought, breathless and wrapped my arms around his waist, feeling the slight tremor that worked its way through his body. "Gil, I love you too...you can stop running now," I replied in the same voice. 'Stop running from me, from what I feel for you. You ran from Sara, please, don't leave me...' Grissom shut his eyes, bowing his head before locking his gaze back onto me. "I'm through running," he said simply, voice sure as he graced my lips with a kiss, hands never leaving my face, the tremor gone.

Those strong hands...'Shit, I think those are one of best features too,' part of my brain thought. They were tracing down my neck, shoulders, biceps, making my skin tingle. There we stood, locked, so out of tune with the world that we didn't notice the clouds had moved, bearing down upon us until a cold, wet drop struck my face. "Gil...it's raining," I said softly, breaking the kiss and he reached for the keys in his pocked, turning up empty handed, expression shocked. "I...think I locked them in the car," he admitted, embaressed and I laughed as heaven opened up, God's deluge pouring onto us.

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